OPENING TIPS: tip020

o Never give up. There is always hope if you fight. Don’t play for one last cheap trap and then resign. Play the move that will make your opponent groan, the move you would hate to see if you had the advantage. Defend with endless determination.

(Fine) 8. Play to get control of the centre.

* QUEEN: Not very useful right at the start, because it may be harassed, but always powerful. Place it near the centre in the opening, behind the minor pieces – e2,d2 or f2/c2 are good squares – ready to jump out to make a raid in combination with other pieces. After some pieces have been exchanged, or you have a clear advantage, you can move the Queen further towards the little centre (e4,d4,e5,d5).

* Pawn structures usually have positive and negative features, e.g. every doubled Pawn yields a (half)-open file.

(Nimzowitsch) 2. A pawn move must not in itself be regarded as a devloping move, but merely as an aid to development.

11. In open or semi-open positions a bishop is usually superior to a knight.